Unvaccinated Canadians Defy Stigma in Viral Twitter Trend

Many Canadians have been taking to Twitter to post their portraits and bios since Sept. 13, saying how because of their choice to remain unvaccinated they’ve been tagged with derogatory labels.

Martin Bélanger from Alberta says he posted the original tweet that started the trend on Tuesday morning.

“I’m a 55 year-old Canadian. I’m married, father to 4, university educated & perfectly bilingual. I’m an engineer, solving problems for 35 yrs. I’m a volunteer hockey coach & an avid outdoorsman. According to Trudeau, I’m an extremist who needs to be dealt with,” wrote Bélanger on his account.

Bélanger told The Epoch Times he posted that after watching a video of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in which he made derogatory remarks about the unvaccinated.

I’m a 55 year-old Canadian. I’m married, father to 4, university educated & perfectly bilingual. I’m an engineer, solving problems for 35 yrs. I’m a volunteer hockey coach & an avid outdoorsman. According to Trudeau, I’m an extremist who needs to be dealt with. #TrudeauMustGo pic.twitter.com/N9VDe8nPR0

— Martyupnorth’s fact-checking twin brother® 🚜 (@Martyupnorth_2) September 13, 2022

“I had seen that video hundreds of times before, but for some reason on Tuesday it made me angrier than usual, and compelled me to post my story. It took off from there,” says Bélanger.

The video is from when Trudeau gave an interview to a French television station in September 2021.

Trudeau had said there are “people who are fiercely opposed to vaccination, who do not believe in science, who are often misogynistic, often are racist.”

“There are not very many of them, but they take up a lot of space … As a leader, as a country, do we tolerate these people or do we say come on.”

The format used by Bélanger went viral, with Twitter identifying the topic as trending over a few days.

“I’m a 34 year old Jamaican born Canadian, engineer and project manager. I am a husband and father of two young boys, 5 & 2. Because I made a different medical choice, Justin Trudeau says I am an ideologically motivated extremist, racist & misogynist,” wrote Devon Thompson.

I’m a 34 year old Jamaican born Canadian, engineer and project manager. I am a husband and father of two young boys, 5 & 2. Because I made a different medical choice, @JustinTrudeau says I am an ideologically motivated extremist, racist & mysoginist. #TrudeauMustGo pic.twitter.com/nfIxJ6yFKd

— Devon A Thompson (@truedevonthomps) September 16, 2022

“I’m 56. Living in AB. My son is 3rd year Uni. I have a career I love. I appreciate kindness & conversation. I discovered that freedom is one of my core values. I have lost much during C-19. Justin Trudeau says I’m an extremist who should not be tolerated,” wrote Marnie Stretch.

I’m 56. Living in AB. My son is 3rd year Uni. I have a career I love. I appreciate kindness & conversation. I discovered that freedom is one of my core values. I have lost much during C-19. @justintrudeau says I’m an extremist who should not be tolerated. #TrudeauHasGotToGo pic.twitter.com/e2gJy8QAXl

— Marnie Stretch 🌸 (@MarnieStretch) September 16, 2022

“I’m a 37 year old dad of three and 8th generation Canadian. I’ve paid enormous taxes every year since I was 15 and I employ more than a dozen Canadians. I’ve never taken a dollar from the government or broken the law and according to Trudeau I’m an extremist,” wrote entrepreneur and author B.R. Sutton.

I’m a 37 year old dad of three and 8th generation Canadian. I’ve paid enormous taxes every year since I was 15 and I employ more than a dozen Canadians. I’ve never taken a dollar from the government or broken the law and according to Trudeau I’m an extremist. #TrudeauHasGotToGo pic.twitter.com/r6wdJbHHCr

— B. Sutton (@BraydenSutton) September 16, 2022

The trend also spread to at least one politician, with Alberta’s UCP leadership contender Danielle Smith joining.

“I’m an educated & independent woman running to be Premier of Alberta, but because I believe no Canadian should be discriminated against for refusing a COVID vaccine, according to Justin Trudeau, I’m a misogynist with unacceptable views that must be dealt with,” she posted on Sept. 16.

I’m an educated & independent woman running to be Premier of Alberta, but because I believe no Canadian should be discriminated against for refusing a COVID vaccine, according to @JustinTrudeau, I’m a misogynist with unacceptable views that must be dealt with.(1/2)#TrudeauMustGo pic.twitter.com/9DCfh2OuOL

— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) September 16, 2022

Bélanger says he’s been caught by surprise by the phenomenon.

“Literally tens of thousands of people posted their story. And it resonates with many because it’s a simple message,” he says.

“We’re all Canadian, we all have a story, we’re all worth listening to. It’s a message for all politicians, not just Liberals. Don’t take us for granted, and stop trying to divide us.”

Bélanger pushes back against assertions on Twitter that what he started is an orchestrated political campaign.

“How can I orchestrate this?” he asks. “I work as a contractor in oil & gas. I don’t even have a political party membership.”

I am a 36 year old 🇨🇦 metis woman. Trauma informed empowerment coach. I support sexual/emotional/physical abuse survivors in reclaiming their body mind and soul from the shackles of past abuse. I believe in bodily autonomy. My PM believe I take up space #TrudeauMustGo pic.twitter.com/v2bi2W6dvI

— FreedomLover (@c77643741) September 15, 2022

I’m a 45yo 2nd gen 🇨🇦 born in Alberta, grew up in a small town in B.C., I’m a carpenter. Working and paying taxes since I was 14. Of my 4 childhood BFs; 1 is Japanese, 1 is Iranian/Ukrainian, 1 is Métis. According to JT I’m a racist extremist. #TrudeauMustGo @Martyupnorth_2 pic.twitter.com/RSCWY9hAfH

— Dog Faced Pony Soldier (@KLJ54282021) September 16, 2022